Storage rack



Feb. 1969 i J, LAMBERT 3,429,450

STORAGE RACK Filed Dec. 8. 1966 I Sheet of 2 IN V EN TOR.

JuhlLambert Feb. 25, 1969 J, J. LAMBERT STORAGE RACK Sheet Filed Dec. 8.1966 INVENTOR. Jul/e Ila/fiber) ilnited States Patent 3,429,450 STORAGERACK June J. Lambert, 9420 W. Foster Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60656 FiledDec. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 603,703 US. Cl. 211-60 Int. Cl. A47f 7/00, 1/14,7/17 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention whilerelating to storage racks in general, has especial reference to a rackof the character described particularly adapted for releasableattachment to the outer edges of the glass or metal shelves of medicinechests or cabinets and which shelves may be variably spaced one abovethe other.

A main object of the invention is to provide a rack for horizontallysupporting one or a plurality of tubular, and often collapsible, itemssuch for instance as lipsticks and the like so that the ends thereofoften bearing selective indicia and the like are visible, thus endingthe clutter in medicine cabinets and giving its user more space andconvenience.

Another object of the invention is, in suspending a rack from a medicinecabinet shelf, as and in the manner just above described, is to make useof otherwise wasted space without lessening space on the underlyingshelf or obstructing from view the bottles, jars, etc., thereon.

The shape and size of a storage rack according to this invention isoptional, as most medicine cabinets are standard and have adjustableshelves. The rack provides a holder for one or, if desirable, aplurality of tubular items of various sizes individually supported inorderly, spaced arrangement with their identifying ends visible. Or, ifneeded a plurality of racks may be strung along the entire length of ashelf without interfering with or obstructing the view of items on theshelf below. All of these features are additional objectives of theinvention.

And, still another object of the invention is to provide a rack ofunitary construction as a holder for a single tube or the like and towhich other units may be added in interlocking arrangement as needed.

The rack provides a handy and convenient holder for lipstick tubes andsimilar items that are so readily knocked over and clutter up medicinecabinets, and it is a still further object of the invention to foreverend such cluttering and hold, neatly in place and readily accessible,these items which are in daily household and office use.

The accompanying drawings illustrating the invention and forming a partof the specification are as follows:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a rack having a capacity forfour tubular items.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of the rack shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of FIGURE 2 looking in thedirection of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the rack of FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3mounted on a shelf and with its clip portion formed to receive forstorage a lipstick brush placed thereon.

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FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modification of the invention inwhich the rack comprises a plurality of unitary holders attached to eachother in interlocking relation.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 but in which the interlockingfeature is of a different formation.

And, FIGURE 7 is a detail perspective view of a rack similar to thatshown in FIGURE 5 but illustrating how a plurality of interlocking unitsmay be suspended from a shelf with a retaining clip on one unit only.

It is to be understood that the drawings are simply for the purpose ofillustration and that such changes in design and structure of the rackmay be made as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the inventionas described in the specification and particularly defined in the tippended claims.

In the drawings similar reference numerals refer to similar partsthroughout the several views.

The rack, see first FIGURES l to 4, inclusive, may be formed of anysuitable material and is preferably mold formed of a readily availableplastic material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or ABSby known techniques. It includes a front vertically disposed Wall 3, oneor a plurality of concave-convex article holding members 4 axiallyaligned with respective apertures 5 regularly spaced in the wall 3, anda flexible clip portion 6 in yielding engagement with the top surface ofa cabinet shelf 7 along the front edge of which the rack is adjustablyand removably suspended. A horizontally orientated shelf-like holding orsupport member or extension spaced below such clip portion 6 is furtherprovided for supportive cooperative engagement with the shelf 7 alongthe underside thereof. An upwardly curved rear end portion 8 of the clipprovides a convenient storage place for a lipstick brush 9 or like item.A representation of a lipstick container or a collapsible tube isindicated at 10 in phantom lines, FIGURE 3.

From the above it will be observed that items within the rack areindividually spaced and lie in a horizontal position so thatidentification marking such as number or color are readily discernible.

A modification of the invention as shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 comprisesa rack formed of a plurality of interlocking units 11 each of which, inan upper row, having a clip-on member 6 or, in some instances, a singleclip on one of the units, as in FIGURE 7, may sufiice for the entirerack.

Each unit 11 comprises an elongated rectangular body having a front endwall 3 parallel side walls 12-12 and top and bottom walls 13 and 14,respectively, within each unit 11 is an axially extending concavo-convexmember 4 similar to and for the same purpose as the members 4 previouslydescribed. The several units 11 are assembled in sidewise abutment witheach other and removably held together by slidable engagement oflongitudinally extending T-ribs 15 on and corresponding slots 16 inrespective top, "bottom and side walls of adjacent units as clearlyindicated in the drawings. An alternative shape of interlocking ribs andslots for units 11 is shown in FIGURE 6 at 15 and 16 respectively.

From the foregoing it is believed the construction, manner of using,purpose, utility and desirability of the invention have been madesufiiciently clear as to call for no further explanation.

What I now claim is:

1. A rack for orderly and visible storage of elongated articles havingidentifying indicia on an end portion thereof and adapted for verticallyorientated suspended attachment to a horizontally orientated shelfcomprising,

(a) a front wall member of essentially planar configuration and having aregular peripheral form, said member having shelf attachment meansdisposed in an upper edge portion thereof,

(13) such shelf attachment means comprising a support member and a clipmember vertically spaced therefrom,

(bi) said support member being of shelf-like con figuration andintegrally attached to the rear of said front Wall member along furtherbeing normally disposed to said front Wall member and extendingrearwardly thereof,

(bii) said clip member having a first end integrally attached to saidfront wall member along said upper edge thereof, said clip memberinitially extending upwardly from said front wall member so as tovertically space said clip member from such support member, the clipmember further extending rearwardly and generally normally of said frontwall member,

(c) a plurality of spaced generally circular openings projectingentirely through said front wall member,

(d) an article holding member of longitudinally orientated shelf-lifeconfiguration associated with each of said openings, each of saidarticle holding members extending normally and rearwardly of said frontWall member and disposed beneath said support member, said articleholding members being further of concave-convex cross section and in atleast partial coextensive axial alignment with its associated opening,

and

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Sturgis 211-69.2 XR Flora 24--259Franz 21l71 Maxcey 21186 XR Karp 24-259 XR Hollins 21l60 CHANCELLOR E.HARRIS, Primary Examiner. W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

